Palm Tree

I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. I purchased a palm tree from Home Depot. It is beautiful. Right now I have it in my basement since it is too cold for it to be outside.
While in the house, what does it need? What should the room temp be? When can I put it outside and then what does it need? I know nothing about palm trees, except they are so pretty. I plan on keeping it on my deck once the weather permits.

I have my palms in the basement. They seem to like the cooler temps and higher humidity better than they did in the dry heat upstairs. They are under fluorescent lights. You have to acclimate them to the outdoors, they are very sensitive when you first bring them outside. They should be in bright, indirect light and can handle part to full shade. Some palms can handle moist soil, others need to be slightly dry in between waterings and don't like to be overwatered. My experience with palms as houseplants are they don't like really cold wind (in the fall). Do you know which kind of palm you have and how much light does it receive in the basement?

I have had mine in an east-facing window all winter and it's doing great. I just keep it watered as usual. It will go back out on the porch for the summer. It's not outside yet but has begun to put on new growth--I'm sure it will grow even better once it gets back outside.

I don't know what kind it is. I got it at Home Depot and, of course, they don't give you much info. It just said mighty palm tree. I could send a picture on the "what plant is this" site. I'll put it on tomorrow.. Thanks to both of you for your help.

morg708-
Mine is a Home Depot NOID too but sometimes I really don't care what kind it is--it's just pretty so I buy it.

morg708, yours may very well be a Majesty Palm being that yours state "mighty" palm. The Majesty Palm's are very popular in the big box store's and cheap.

Rachel

I was at HD the other day when they were unloading Majesty Palms. Make sure to watch it for bugs this next week or two since they are exposed to so many other plants in an uncontrolled environment. Also, give it a good watering to make sure the soil isn't stinky. I've had to return a few plants to HD for soil that smelled like doggy doo or bugs.

Yes, I did find that it is a majesty palm. Right now I have it in my basement where it will be cooler. However there is not a lot of light. Is it alright to put it under plant lights? I have a three light pole lamp that I could put the plant lights in. Each one of the bulb holers rotates. Is there a certain wattage to use? This tree is very tall, actually it is hitting the ceiling of my basement. Thanks for the help.

The Majesty Palm's are not the easiest palm to keep "healthy" looking as a house plant. From reading and asking question's about this particular palm, I have been told that they need "high light" and consistent moisture (not soggy soil) just do not let it dry out and high humidity to keep them as happy as they can be as a houseplant. I would say that your plant is not receiving enough "high light" in your basement and even with adding a few grow light's may not be enough for your large specimen. Mine is very large and I have her in a high lighted room which also has humidifier's to create a humid environment for such. I have also added an iron supplement to "aid" the leave's and it has helped.

Good luck with your majesty palm

Rachel

Thanks Rachael. I really don't have a highly lit room to put this in. I am planning to put it on my deck as soon as weather permits. I am going to try to put it in the brightest room I have and use the grow lights. Hopefully it will survive until I can put it outside.

Your very welcome.

Rachel

You have all been a great help, but do you have any suggestions as to what I could use as a humidity tray for this huge palm, and could you please explain exactly how I would do this? Thanks

This message was edited Apr 9, 2009 9:34 AM

I have two humidifier's running in a room that has some tropical's that prefer a higher humidity level than what I can provide for them in the winter month's. One of them put's out warm/moisture ( I only use this one if the humidity level drop's below 60%) and the other one is just a regular humidifier but it show's a reading that tell's me what the level is in the room. With using just the one I am able to mostly maintain a level of atleast 68% on average. Take it from me, humidifier's really, really help out. I had a couple of tropical vine's that I almost died before I figured out what was going on ......I moved them to the "humidity" room and they have taken off like crazy.

You could also add a type of tray with pebble's and add some water as well. Place the tray underneath your plant but do not allow the water to soak up through the bottom of your plant.

Hope this help's

Rachel

This message was edited Apr 9, 2009 10:36 AM